Experience Highlights
- Duration: Half-day (flexible)
Visiting the town of Gonar is a must. Your guide and driver will take you to explore the incredible Royal Enclosure and its buildings. The fortress, which is surrounded by a 300-foot-long wall, is one of Ethiopia's many UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The oldest and most impressive structure in the Imperial Compound is the two-story palace of Emperor Fasilidas, which was constructed using solid basalt stones. Other royal buildings of interest include the library of Emperor Yohannes I; the House of Song where royal ceremonies were held; the elegant reception and banquet hall of Emperor Bakaffa, and the palace of the king's wife. You will also visit the nearby bath of King Fasiledas, where modern-day Timket ceremonies are held. Afterwards, you will be taken to see the Church of Debre Birhan Selassie, renowned for its brightly-coloured ceilings which sport what are arguably the country's best-known murals. For a lunch stop, our restaurant of choice is the Four Sisters (pictured).
Derek Schuurman
Travel Specialist